The Spartans, heading into the regular-season finale last Friday at East Tennessee State, had lost six of seven, the only win coming at home against Kennesaw State, the worst team in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

But in a game that was televised regionally on CSS and shown nationally on ESPN3, the Spartans (15-16, 9-9) dismantled ETSU, 88-56, and looked like the team that was picked in preseason polls to finish second and challenge for the league title.

“I told the guys before the game that we had not been playing at the level we are capable of playing,” USC Upstate head coach Eddie Payne said. “We talked about a variety of things that we need to do that don't rely on talent but on concentration and effort and things of that nature. Our kids really responded. …We did everything the right way. It certainly helped our confidence.”

“I think it's fair to say we've had a disappointing season,” said junior forward Torrey Craig, the league's leading scorer and a unanimous choice earlier this week for first-team all-conference. “But I still think we've got a real good chance to win the tournament. We just have to play tough defense and execute. I think we'll be fine.”

To claim the championship and earn an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, the Spartans will have to win three games in about a 42-hour span. The championship will be played at noon Saturday.

“It's going to boil down to playing well for three days,” USC Upstate sophomore guard Ty Greene said. “That's the beauty of a mid-major tournament. The way this league has been, with everybody beating everybody, it's up for grabs. We're just going to leave it all on the court.”

USC Upstate won four straight games, including 79-64 against Jacksonville, to finish January. But then came the unexpected slide. The Spartans were even blown out by eventual No. 7 seed North Florida, 77-53, heading into the finale at ETSU.

“We are sick of losing. That's the biggest thing,” Greene said. “We definitely weren't happy with how we played in the conference. We were struggling, just in a funk. But we went into that ETSU game with intensity and it showed. That's what it looks like when we play up to our potential. It gave us a ton of momentum and we got some swagger back.”

The Spartans were a No. 3 seed last season after going 20-11, 13-5. But they were knocked out in the first round by sixth-seeded Florida Gulf Coast.

“We're not really thinking about last year,” Craig said. “We're concentrating on this year and what we've got to do.”

Today will be a USC Upstate doubleheader at Hawkins Arena on the campus of Mercer University with the fourth-seeded women's team (12-17, 8-10) playing at 6 p.m. against No. 5-seeded North Florida.

The Spartans have already beaten North Florida twice this season. They won at home, 64-52, on Jan. 28 and 61-57 two weeks ago in Jacksonville, Fla. Freshman Brittany Starling had a combined 31 points and 16 rebounds in the two games.

USC Upstate' leading scorer is senior Tee'Ara Copney, who averages 13.1 points per game and was named second-team all-conference. The Spartans lost a first-round game last season, 72-59, to Stetson and finished 9-21.

<p>It was as if USC Upstate simply flipped a switch and the light came on. It was badly needed. This basketball team was groping in the dark.</p><p>The Spartans, heading into the regular-season finale last Friday at East Tennessee State, had lost six of seven, the only win coming at home against Kennesaw State, the worst team in the Atlantic Sun Conference.</p><p>But in a game that was televised regionally on CSS and shown nationally on ESPN3, the Spartans (15-16, 9-9) dismantled ETSU, 88-56, and looked like the team that was picked in preseason polls to finish second and challenge for the league title.</p><p>“I told the guys before the game that we had not been playing at the level we are capable of playing,” USC Upstate head coach Eddie Payne said. “We talked about a variety of things that we need to do that don't rely on talent but on concentration and effort and things of that nature. Our kids really responded. …We did everything the right way. It certainly helped our confidence.”</p><p>And just in time.</p><p>USC Upstate opens Atlantic Sun tournament play at 8:30 p.m. tonight in Macon, Ga., as the No. 5 seed going against No. 4 seed Jacksonville.</p><p>“I think it's fair to say we've had a disappointing season,” said junior forward Torrey Craig, the league's leading scorer and a unanimous choice earlier this week for first-team all-conference. “But I still think we've got a real good chance to win the tournament. We just have to play tough defense and execute. I think we'll be fine.”</p><p>To claim the championship and earn an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament, the Spartans will have to win three games in about a 42-hour span. The championship will be played at noon Saturday.</p><p>“It's going to boil down to playing well for three days,” USC Upstate sophomore guard Ty Greene said. “That's the beauty of a mid-major tournament. The way this league has been, with everybody beating everybody, it's up for grabs. We're just going to leave it all on the court.”</p><p>USC Upstate won four straight games, including 79-64 against Jacksonville, to finish January. But then came the unexpected slide. The Spartans were even blown out by eventual No. 7 seed North Florida, 77-53, heading into the finale at ETSU.</p><p>“We are sick of losing. That's the biggest thing,” Greene said. “We definitely weren't happy with how we played in the conference. We were struggling, just in a funk. But we went into that ETSU game with intensity and it showed. That's what it looks like when we play up to our potential. It gave us a ton of momentum and we got some swagger back.”</p><p>The Spartans were a No. 3 seed last season after going 20-11, 13-5. But they were knocked out in the first round by sixth-seeded Florida Gulf Coast.</p><p>“We're not really thinking about last year,” Craig said. “We're concentrating on this year and what we've got to do.”</p><p>Today will be a USC Upstate doubleheader at Hawkins Arena on the campus of Mercer University with the fourth-seeded women's team (12-17, 8-10) playing at 6 p.m. against No. 5-seeded North Florida.</p><p>The Spartans have already beaten North Florida twice this season. They won at home, 64-52, on Jan. 28 and 61-57 two weeks ago in Jacksonville, Fla. Freshman Brittany Starling had a combined 31 points and 16 rebounds in the two games.</p><p>USC Upstate' leading scorer is senior Tee'Ara Copney, who averages 13.1 points per game and was named second-team all-conference. The Spartans lost a first-round game last season, 72-59, to Stetson and finished 9-21.</p>